Metallic foot-mat



METALLIC FOOT MAT.

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY5. 1919.

1,343,356. PatentedJune 15,1920.

Lg/i 50' /6 line 33 through which particles of UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

JOSEPH s. Don, or BURNHAM, ILLINOIS.

METALLIC FOOT-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1920.

Application filed July 5., 1919. Serial No. 308,717. I

' of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mats for use in cleaning dirt from a persons shoes. The object of the invention is to make a mat of this character for use upon automobile runningboards and the like which is of metal, therefore practically indestructible but which can be readily cleaned.

The invention consists in such a metallic mat very easily constructed and therefore cheap to make, which is satisfactory in use, and not readily liable to get out of order. More particularly the invention consists in features and details of construction hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring. to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an automobile running board having a 'mat of this invention operatively hinged thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional end view of the mat shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view taken on the the'middle of one of "the component bars of the mat.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a single bar removed from the rest of the mat.

In constructing the preferred form of the device of this invention, a plurality of parallel bars of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided. Each bar 10 consists of an initially flat strip of metal of suitable length, the ends 12 and 14 remaining at all times flat as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The intermediate central portion of each of these bars has its opposite side edges 16 bent upward so as to form, in the center, a V-shaped trough 18 clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The obvious result of this operation is that the distance between each pair of edges 16 is less than the width of the ends 12 and 14 of the original bar with the result that when a plurality of these bars are placed side by side, intervening spaces 20 are left through dirt, scraped from a shoe by the edges 16, can fall. In making the mat of this invention, a plurality of these mained there.

bars are placed side by side as shown and framed by placing over the ends U-shaped end members 22 and connecting these together along the sides of the mat by side members 24, the whole frame being secured together by spot welding at the corners 26 or by any other suitable means. The bending of the edges 16 of the bars is so carried on that the end portions 12 and 14 always lie flat while the side edges 16 are, in the finished mat, at a substantial height above the upper surface of the frame members 22 and 24, thus Insuring the edges 16 always contacting the shoe of the user. In other Words, the operator cannot ordinarily, by resting his foot on the frame members 22 and 24, get his foot in-such a position that the edges 16 will not scrape his shoe.

The mat thus constructed is attached By any suitable means to a fixed support as for instance theautomobile running board 28. In the particular case, here illustrated,

hinges 30 are provided on the running board to pivotally mount the mat.

In the operation of the device, an operator steps upon the mat in the position of Fig. 1 and scrapes his'shoe upon it in the ordinary manner. Whenever the spaces in and between the bars of the mat become clogged with dirt, the operator takes hold of the free edge 24 of the mat, tilts it upward on the hinges 30 and, after brushing the upper surface of the mat, brushes away the particles of dirt which have passed through the openings 20 onto the running board and re- He then returns the mat to normal position.

Drainage holes vided in the to permit drainage of water'therefrom.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is g 1. A metallic mat made up of an inclosing frame filled in with a plurality of parallel sided metallic bars having fiat ends placed side by side within the frame while intermediate portions of the metallic bar upward at their side edges to form V-shaped members with intervening spaces between them for the purposes set forth.

2. 1n mechanism of the class described,a mat made up from a plurality of side contacting metallic bars, fiat at their end portions, intervening portions of the bar being bent upward into a V-shaped'cross section are bent whose upper edges are spaced apart onefroinv In Witness whereof I have hereunto suhthe other and from the adjacent edges of the scribed my name in the presence of two adj aeent bars, such edges, in all instances,be- Witnesses.

in above the flat end portions of the bars and JOSEPH S. DOE.

a rame member embracing the flattened ends Witnesses: I

of the bars and holding them together and in EUGERE J. DOE,

place for the purposes set forth. O'r'ro KEIGH. 

